Farmers in Bhojpur Embrace Commercial Apple Cultivation Following Local Government Promotion

Bhojpur. Farmers in Baikunthe, Ward No. 6 of Ramprasad Rai Rural Municipality, have started commercial apple farming. Local farmers have been organized and attracted to this venture after the ward launched an apple cultivation promotion program.

Approximately one thousand improved variety apple saplings have been distributed in the areas of Bakpa, Bhamla, Upper Chapgaun's Dingla, and Choktang. The grafted saplings were brought from Solukhumbu and distributed to the farmers. Last year, around 1,800 saplings were planted on more than 100 ropanis of land in the villages of Samke and Tamalung alone.

According to local resident Pandav Rai, 36 farmers in Samke and Tamalung have expanded apple cultivation over 100 ropanis of land. He stated that the ward's 50 percent cost-sharing grant has encouraged the farmers. "We are now engaged in commercial apple farming," Rai said, "The ward has been providing necessary grant support for the expansion of cultivation."

According to Ward Chairperson Ekraj Acharya, special emphasis has been placed on adopting farming systems suitable for the geography and soil in the arable land within the ward. He informed that a plan has been moved forward to identify areas suitable for apple production and encourage farmers toward commercial farming. "We have prioritized the apple cultivation expansion program," Ward Chairperson Acharya said, "The soil and climate here appear suitable for apple production. Our goal is to develop this area as a model zone for apples."

Previously, the ward had also established a nursery for promoting commercial orange farming. The ward stated that the nursery was operated with the objective of making saplings produced in the local climate available to the farmers.